Knockdown-Type Track Wheel System for a Camera Dolly

ABSTRACT

A knockdown-type track wheel system for camera dolly comprising a pair of. spaced apart camera track railings, a plurality of cross-members spacedly supporting said pair of camera track railings, and a collapsible tripod supporting each of said cross-member, each of said cross-member being defined by a pair of opposing threaded studs on the respective ends, a height adjusting means screwably attached to corresponding threaded stud, a ball extending from said height adjusting means, and a triangular railing seat adjustably secured on said ball and fitted to the underside of said camera track railings.

The present invention relates generally to camera dollies but more particularly to a knockdown-type track wheel system for camera dollies.

Camera dollies are used in the television and motion picture industries to support and maneuver a camera. Typically, the camera dolly is on wheels and has an aim to raise and lower the camera. The camera dolly is generally moved by dolly operators or “grips”, to properly position the camera to follow the film or video sequence.

In the production of motion pictures, the motion picture camera must often be moved from one position to another. The camera movements may require a change in camera position, camera angle, or camera elevation. The camera movement must be performed smoothly, as even small amounts of vibration of the camera can result in unsatisfactory filming, due to shaky or erratic recorded images. For certain film sequences, the camera must be held in a fixed position. In other film sequences, the camera must be continuously and rapidly moved to follow an action or moving sequence. Similar requirements must often be met when using television cameras.

Camera dollies and pedestals have long been used to support and move motion picture cameras. Typically, a camera dolly has four wheels or pairs of wheels on a chassis having a generally rectangular wheel base. The wheels may be attached to the chassis via articulated legs, or the wheels may be directly pivotably attached to the chassis. The camera dolly must support and maneuver the camera with a minimum of vibration or shock, to avoid degrading the filmed image quality. Consequently, camera dollies must be designed, manufactured and maintained with precision. When used on a relatively smooth surface, such as studio floor, the camera dolly is generally supplied with pneumatic tires, so that the camera may be smoothly supported and moved, even over minor cracks or bumps in the floor surface.

When the supporting ground surface is bumpy and irregular (e.g., when the dolly is used outdoors on sand, irregular ground, a poor quality paved surface, etc.) track is assembled on the ground to provide a smooth rolling surface for the dolly. However, for use on track, many dollies require that the pneumatic ground wheels be replaced with stiffer track wheels. Other camera dollies require the installation of track wheel attachments, which are provided as accessories to the dolly. While these techniques have met with varying degrees of success, they have certain disadvantages. For example, it may be time consuming and labor intensive to install track wheels. During production of a motion picture or television program, even a delay of e.g., five minutes, (to install track wheels) can be very costly as all of the actors, camera operators, lighting, sound and special effects professionals, the director and the various crew members must wait until the camera dolly is set up for the track filming sequence. Accordingly, it is advantageous to have equipment, which can be quickly set up for the desired film or video sequence. In addition, track wheels or track wheel attachments must be shipped and stored separately from the camera dolly, since they are not permanently attached to the dolly. This requirement further complicates the logistics of television and film production.

Where a camera dolly is moved over curved track, the lateral spacing between the left and right wheels (or sets of wheels) must be allowed to change slightly, to accommodate the wheel position geometry on curved track. In addition, the wheel (or wheel sets) on the inside of the curve must be turned or angled more sharply than the outside wheels. These requirements must be accommodated for good dolly performance, and they complicate dolly design considerations.

The primary object of the present of this invention therefore is to provide a knockdown-type track wheels system for a camera dolly that can be easily assembled and disassembled at the site saving a lot time therefore.

Another object is to provide an invention for a knockdown-type track wheels system for a camera dolly having an adjustable pedestal that allows the camera level be raised or lowered easily.

Still an object of this invention for a knockdown-type track wheels system for a camera dolly having pedestal that allows quick set ups for dollying up and down the stairs, through open windows of a building or automobiles, up and down acute slopes, over high obstacles through the branches of trees and the like.

Another object is to provide an invention for a knockdown-type track wheels system for a camera dolly having a pair of spaced apart interconnected railings with slanted opposing ends. Said opposed slanted ends of each railings when connected eliminates any jerking thereof as the wheels of the camera dolly passes therethrough even when there is gap in joint portion of the adjacent ends. This is because the wheels are always supported by the rail at any point thereof. rail.

These and other objects and advantages will come to view and be understood upon a reading of the detailed description when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention for a knockdown-type track wheels system for a camera dolly; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded view.

Referring now to the several views of the drawing in detail, there is shown a knockdown-type track wheel system for a camera dolly generally designated as reference numeral 10.

Said knockdown-type track wheel system 10 through where a camera dolly 11 traverses comprises a pair of spaced apart camera dolly track railings 12 each being defined by interconnected angular structural member 13, a plurality of equally spaced cross-members 14 supporting said pair of camera dolly track railings 12 and ensuring equal distance between opposing cameral dolly track railings 12, and a plurality of tripod 15 supporting corresponding cross-member 14 thereof.

The tripod 15 consists three inclined collapsible legs 16 having upper ends pivotably connected to an upstanding tubular post 17, and a telescopic extension 18 retractably secured to said tubular post 17 by a set screw 19 provided at the upper portion thereof. The free end 20 of said telescopic extension 18 is removably inserted into a bore 21 provided at the middle portion of said cross-member 14.

Finally, the opposing ends 22 of said cross-member 14 is provided with a pair of threaded stud 23 opposedly disposed thereon through which respective height adjusting means 24 is screwably provided to each of said threaded stud 23. Said height adjusting means 24 is defined by an abbreviated tubular body 25 having an internally threaded bore (not shown) at the lower end that screwably receives said threaded stud 23, a turnable portion 26 with knurling provided thereto for turning and adjusting the height of said height adjusting means 24, a ball 27 extending from said height adjusting means 24 and an adjustable triangular railing seat 28 fitted at underside of said camera dolly track railings 12, said triangular railing seat 28 including a socket 29 at the bottom thereof where said ball 27 is secured for movability. 

1. A knockdown-type track wheel system for camera dolly comprising a pair of spaced apart camera track railings, a plurality of cross-members spacedly supporting said pair of camera track railings, and a collapsible tripod supporting each of said cross-member, each of said cross-member being defined by a pair of opposing threaded studs on the respective ends, a height adjusting means screwably attached to corresponding threaded stud, a ball extending from said height adjusting means, and a triangular railing seat adjustably secured on said ball and fitted to the underside of said camera track railings.
 2. A knockdown-type track wheel system according to claim 1 wherein said collapsible tripod being retractably provided with a telescopic extension.
 3. A knockdown-type track wheel system according to claim 1 wherein each of said cross-member having a bore through where the free end of said telescopic extension being removably inserted. 